Happy Birthday Jim!

Today is Jim's 46th birthday, and though he resists getting older just like the rest of us, he wouldn't have it any other way - to be in Ukraine, surrounded by his growing family, getting to know the country, its people and especially our girls, made the day one he will never forget.

His wife on the other hand is glad the day is over. Friday was our 11th wedding anniversary, Sunday was Father's Day and today was Jim's birthday! Trying to find appropriate gifts that are small and sturdy enough to travel back to America was a chore. Finding Scotch tape to wrap the gifts without speaking Russian was even harder! (I resorted to wrapping paper secured by rubber bands).

He was thrilled to receive a hand-painted Ukrainian box picturing a beautiful Orthodox church in Kiev. I think he was even more thrilled to get a special card from each of the girls and a sweet cherub figurine from Anastasia.

Amazingly, the girls' friend Vika, who recently "graduated" from the orphanage, came by with her friend Tanya to bring a special gift (a beautiful clock) for Jim. The man is loved by everyone he meets.

After gifts and cake, he treated Galyna, Anastasia and her friend Masha to see an action flick in Russian. That is just like him - to take the girls to a movie they really want to see, even though he doesn't care to see the movie (he hates action flicks) and won't understand it when he watches it.

He is like that. Jim has a huge heart for the disenfranchised and is constantly reaching out to all kinds of people. He has made more friends in Odessa than I have made in almost two years in Richmond. Perhaps it's the journalist in him, but Jim is fascinated by everyone he meets and wants to know "their story." He is genuinely concerned about people and not in a superficial "how ya doin" kind of way. Here in Odessa he wants to find out how these struggling people survive in a low-wage, high priced resort city. Yesterday, he sat talking to the manager of the cleaning crew for over an hour, "interviewing" her about her history, education, family and hopes for the future. His compassion for folks is deep and wide.

Here is Jim's new friend - the parking lot attendant, who is showing Christian a stray cat. My husband knows him by name - I do not. He shakes hands with him and his colleagues every day and bought a $30 soccer ball for them so they can kill time in the streets during their long days in the sun.

He is naturally kind and loving to the girls' friends (pictured here with Anastasia's friend Tanya) who visit us often - and to every other orphan and young person he meets. One of his greatest skills is being a good listener. Even with the language barrier, they can tell that this is a man who really cares.

Jim became friends with our driver (Slava) so quickly - that within a few days of arriving in Odessa we were eating dinner with Slava's family and visiting Slava's parents at the farm they run to feed local orphans. In case you didn't notice, he is also an extremely talented writer. Except for a couple blog entries by me, he has written and posted all the updates for almost a month now.

But his love and commitment to me and to our family is what truly amazes me. I have never seen a father love a child more dearly. And Christian cherishes his Daddy.

Of course his often childish sense of humor probably doesn't hurt . . .

(Note: I was going to post a picture of Jim here in his new "European bathing suit," which he proudly wore on the beach recently. For the sake of our marriage - I decided otherwise).

Jim's heart for God's most neglected children and his tireless efforts in getting the girls reminds me why I love him so much. I've never seen someone who is able to identify so well with anyone he comes across. He recently shared with me how much he was influenced by a Christian writer who said "There are no little people." That perfectly describes my husband's way of relating to people of all races and persuasions, especially those who are hurting. He is a very unusual man, and is curious about most everything - from Nascar, to opera, bird watching, and world history. But most of all he is passionate about his faith and that faith drives his desire to share his easy, Texas brand of hospitality with literally everyone he meets. Our daughters have seen only a glimpse of their new dad. Soon they will realize how incredibly blessed they really are.